European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 1, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page to the stars and stripes monday. February 1,19bb columns William e. Colby aiding contras increases threat against . As they prepare for this week s showdown Vole on con Ira Aid Many congressmen Ore. Wilh Good reason pos ing a Funda menial question is . And Central american Security belter served by Aid to the contras or by stopping it the answer is simple by stopping it. Nicaragua poses three potential Security threats 10 the United slates and the Region. At Best the contras arc irrelevant 1o these threats. At worst they Csc Rubalc Vliem. First although tiny Nicaragua s Nili Lary Power Doos not and cannot in ii self threaten the United Stales a direct threat to . Security could arise in Nicaragua if that country were to provide a platform for soviet military Power missiles submarine bases and the like. Tills possibility deserves to be Laken seriously although nicaraguan defector Roger Miranda Bengochia disclosed that the sandinista and the soviets have not discussed the subject and have no plans to do so but the reality is that if the Sandinia tas should be Foolhardy enough to permit the soviets to establish bases on their soil the t Ondras could do nothing Lopre vent it. Even if we doubled their size. If inc contras have any of Eccl at All. It is to increase sandinista incentives to commit the soviets to Nicaragua s defense by providing the soviets Wilh such facilities. Unlike inc a Maras the United Stales does have the ability to prevent this Cven Tua Lily. We not the Comras can and should obtain soviet and  0 i cup the soviets out of Nicara Gua. We not the contras can and should make it Clear that we possess and will employ the military might to eliminate any Diacci soviet military threat  Nicaragua. But we must offer Ihm both some incentive to accept such a Deal. Slopping Aid to the contras is exactly such an incentive removing any need or Jusli Favalion for them to refuse it. The second possible threat that Nicara Gua poses is that of conventional military a crossion against its Central american neighbors. Military experts agree thai Nicaragua docs not currently pose such a threat. Nor do Miranda s disclosures Sug Gest an intent to build one the Force he Andrew j. Glass reported is a militia to defend Nicaragua against american attack. Nicaragua does not possess the capability to project military Power beyond its by dvrs for any period of Lime. Its korean War Vintage links which arc older than the people who drive them Are inappropriate for the terrain that the sandinista would encounter in an inva Sion. But in the event the nicaraguans Al tempi overt aggression the contras can not provide the defense. On the contrary the contras constitute if anything an incentive for Nicaragua to invade Hon Duras since that is where their bases and their sources of supplies Are. The argument that the contras tie Down the sandinista and keep them from invading their neighbors docs not hold water. If inc sandinista arc think ing of invading anyone what constrains them beyond their Lack of offensive Mil itary capability is the United slates. In the event of an invasion we would have every right under the collective Security provisions of the inter american system. To respond to a req Cal of the victim for assistance including . Forces in re Pelling the invasion. And there would be bipartisan support in Congress for this action. The third and More serious Security threat that Nicaragua poses is that of subversion of its neighbors. Here Loo the contras arc part of the problem not part of the solution. Central America s presidents have launched and sustained their peace process Oul of a conviction that heir societies Are Only destabilized by the conflicts raging in the Region. The contras do nothing to pre Lect Nicaragua s neighbors against sub version. On the contrary As Cosla icon president Oscar Arias has recognized _ involvement with the contras weakens the authority of the other Cen trial american presidents to keep the pressure on the sandinista and gives Nicaragua an excuse for hedging us compliance with the peace plan. A verifies lion commission led by the five presi dents can work against a violator Only when the others have nothing to hide is inc hondurans do As Long As they House the contras we will begin effectively id insulate Nicaragua s neighbors against subversion when we help build successful Prosper Ous democratic societies. Programs of political economic and social development Are the real barriers again la sandinista subversion. Continued Cen trial american wars divert our energies and make ibis impossible that is what drove the five presidents to Guatemala last August and to san Jose earlier last month. In Short our Contra policy works against All three of our Security concerns with respect to Nicaragua. We further our Security interests through verifiable agreements with Nicaragua and its a Irons backed by . Power and by help ing Central americans create the conditions for democratic development. The con res could help us More As a political movement within Nicaragua than As a paramilitary one assaulting its Borders. Congress should Slop the pre sent program As counterproductive. William e. Colby is i former director or the Cia was rather Sef up by Bush in confront of on. �  _. I l.-. _.�.,.  Hrncir Lynnl of Lull a of tilt til Hilll Hlls 3 Alvo i 11�tvi woh inc Tafter Dan rather left Sam Houston stale College with a degree in journalism he got a Job with Kerh the lbs radio affiliate in Houston rather once told me he was a hard Core Republican Back Ihen. Fie even helped reorganize the Houston Junior Cham Ber of  rce along whal would now be called right Wing lines. That was Back in 1953 the same year that George Herbert Walker Bush came to Houston to make his Foune in the Oil business. Hush s father Prescott Bush was then a Liberal Republican senator from Connecticut sen. Bush once introduced me to his son. I covered the senator s doings for the old new York Herald trib Une a Liberal Republican newspaper you fellow ought to gel on quite Well the elder Bush said. You running along the same lines when As vice president. He chatted up the Royal saudi family. Bush proposed in 1986 that the saudis and inc iranians cooperate to stabilize Middle East crude prices at si8 a barrel. That would have mightily helped Bush s pals in the depressed american of Patch. Bui Bush s dealings had to be kept secret some people would have been distressed to learn that Bush was striving to raise Oil prices by 4i percent to the Collat eral Benefit of people who like to haul Oul inc garbage in captured american hags. Naturally As prime time Anchorman for lbs news rather knows about Bush s role As a Middle East broker. Rather knows hat Bush knew William Buckley from their years together at the Cia. Bush had seen a videotape of Buckley one Lime Cia station chief in Lebanon being Vonured retarded As an automatic shoo in for the gop Percsi Dan dial nomination. Hard Core republicans the kind of Cople who were rather s pals in Houston -1950s. George Bush As co founder. Bush to put in nicely has been less than candid in failing to reveal his deep personal involvement in �  out of Bush during a live interview on the lbs news As some 18 million people watched. Fat Chance. Shrewdly Bush knew what rather wanted. The resulting cacophony lit up lbs switchboards All Over America. And Nike Peters the Clever cartoonist for the Dayton daily news had a new character rim  Back Al Sam Houston slate College a journalism professor should have Laid rather that in our Busi Ness you Musl never lose Eon Lrol of an interview Lei alone lose control of yourself. You cannot Mace Public accusations you be made us hypocrites in the face of the world and still profess to be a objective reporter. Hypocrisy and irony drip from this whole affair. Terry Smith of lbs confronted Lee Alwater Bush s Campaign manager and asked whether rather a set up. We never discuss How we make  Atwater replied. The opinions expressed in the columns Tat cartoons on this pint repro int those of a author us return Way to be considered h representing the Riew w the Sun and stripes or the United stain to in Anent